Boutique Yoga began in Canberra in 2006 at the beginning of my pursuit into Yogic studies & lifestyle.

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My background is Education, (high school teaching), specialising in physical education, dance, health, music & fitness. Always seeking insight into the deeper world around us, studying Yoga opened doorways into understanding that wisdom & peace lie within, & learning to trust in that sustains us through the most difficult times we face in our lives. I know this, but knowing is not enough. Practicing is key. Daily practice, even just a few minutes each day, is how we free ourselves from the entanglement we create in our bodies & minds.

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Boutique Yoga aims to provide an experience of belonging. A place of ease in this world of dis-ease, a place to nurture a ritual of self-care & nourishment, a place of openness & safety. We want to warmly welcome people from all walks of life, ages, cultures & experiences. We aim to cultivate community in this fractured world.

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Through practices that encourage freedom, strength, clarity & calm, our bodies & minds are trained to remember we already have what we need inside us. Often we need guidance to return to this place of equanimity & harmony. Regular Yoga practice affirms this wisdom & keeps us healthy & well at all levels of being. Also key to the practice is remembering how important it is to have fun, leave any competitive urges outside the door, and definitely not take ourselves too seriously!

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Boutique Yoga has taken it’s own shape over the years & continues to do so. A home-based space in which to grow a dedicated Yoga community reduces the stress & financial costs of operating a commercial venue. This has always been a determined, conscious decision to ensure the management of Boutique Yoga prioritizes stress reduction. I know myself well enough to understand I cannot authentically hold space& guide others compassionately & professionally, if I am not taking care of my own mental/emotional health.

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As I write this, I am occasionally looking away to gaze upon the magnificent mandala created by Scarlet Barnett, a Bundjaling woman of Palawa descent, trained Yoga teacher & visionary artist. We commissioned Scarlet to create this beautiful artwork for our new studio. We have called it Unity.  This mandala speaks to the common ground between First Nations people & the Yoga community.  It speaks to the wisdom of “one-ness”, that we belong to each other. The 8 petals of the mandala represent the 8 limbs of Yoga, while the waves & spirals symbolise our connection to the natural flow of life & ancestral lineage. 

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Namaste

I see the light that shines within you that recognises the light shining within me. In this place, we are one.

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Merryn Lee Perez